Seahawks’ Michael Bennett might play Sunday at Indianapolis

Originally published September 30, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Updated October 1, 2013 at 1:01 am

RENTON – Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who was taken off the field to a hospital Sunday after a scary incident in the team’s 23-20 victory at Houston, will return to practice this week with the hope of playing Sunday at Indianapolis.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Bennett “was feeling pretty good’’ after suffering a strained muscle in his back.

“We’re excited about that for him,’’ Carroll said. “He was really scared. They had him in all of the alerts and didn’t know what was going on. But, I just checked him before I came in, he’s going to go this week and we’ll see how much he can work and … with the thought that he can go this week.”

The Seahawks could get center Max Unger back Sunday but likely will be without right tackle Breno Giacomini for a few more weeks.

Each missed the game Sunday as the Seahawks played without three usual starters on the offensive line.

Unger, a Pro Bowl choice last season, missed the game with a triceps injury suffered the previous week against Jacksonville.

“I’m sure we’ll be very protective of him early in the week and hope by the end of the week, he’ll be able to go,’’ Carroll said.

Giacomini, meanwhile, had arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome knee Monday morning, Carroll said, to remove “loose bodies’’ floating in the knee. Carroll said the good news is that no other damage was found.

“The doctors were really pleased that there weren’t a lot of problems with his knee, structurally and that he can get back quickly from this,’’ Carroll said.

Left tackle Russell Okung will be out at least six more games with a toe injury.

• Linebacker Bruce Irvin will return to the team this week after missing the first four games due to a suspension for performance-enhancement drug use. The team does not have to make room on its active 53-man roster for Irvin, however, until later in the week.